600.14 retention periods

1. Number: 600.14
SUBJECT: RETENTION PERIODS Page: 1
Date: 02/08/1983
Approved: Jennifer Hawkins, D.V.M., Director Revised: 09/24/15
I. PURPOSE
To provide guidelines for meeting state mandated retention periods.
I. POLICY
Impounded animals must be retained by law for a specified number of working days (excluding
legal holidays). State guidelines will determine the applicable retention periods when placing
holds on or selling impounded animals at OC Animal Care.
II. SCOPE
Applicable to all staff who are responsible for determining retention periods for animals
impounded at OC Animal Care.
III. FORMS
Not applicable.
IV. REFERENCES
OC Animal Care Policy & Procedure 400.12
V. DEFINITIONS
Not applicable.
II. PROCEDURE
A. Owner Surrendered or Returned Animals
Animals that are surrendered by their owner or a custodian for either the purpose of
euthanasia or adoption are held for a minimum of two days not including legal holidays
or the day of impound. Retention days are as follows:
1. The first day is for owner redemption only in the event the owner wishes to
reclaim the animal.

2. Number: 600.14
SUBJECT: RETENTION PERIODS Page: 1
Date: 02/08/1983
Approved: Jennifer Hawkins, D.V.M., Director Revised: 09/24/15
2. The second through fourth day, the animal becomes available for adoption or
owner redemption.
3. The fifth day, the animal may be adopted to a private party, Adoption Partner
Candidate (APC), euthanized, or held for a longer adoption period.
4. Puppies and kittens:
a. If deemed adoptable, are available on the day of surrender or return.
b. If the animal is a newborn animal that needs maternal care and has been
impounded without its mother, or is irremediably suffering, may be
euthanized by the veterinarian.
B. Stray Animals
Stray animals impounded by animal control officers (ACO) or brought in by citizens at
the main gate are held for a minimum of four days (7 days for Laguna Hills impounds),
not including legal holidays or the day of impound. All stray animals are posted on the
Lost Pets page on the OC Animal Care website at www.ocpetinfo.com within 30
minutes of being impounded at the shelter. The retention days are as follows:
1. The first three days (7 days for Laguna Hills impounds) are for owner
redemptions only.
2. The fourth day (eighth day for Laguna Hills impounds) the animal becomes
available for adoption pending medical and behavioral evaluation or owner
redemption.
3. The fifth day (eighth day for Laguna Hills impounds) the animal may be
released to a non-profit rescue, adopted to a private party, euthanized, or held for
a longer adoption period.
C. Owned Animals
With the exception of animals impounded from Laguna Hills and Anaheim, animals
wearing a rabies tag, microchip, license tag or any other form of identification, shall be
held for 7 days not including legal holidays or the day of impound. Animals with
identification impounded from Laguna Hills shall be held for 10 days not including
legal holidays or the day of impound. Animals with identification impounded from

3. Number: 600.14
SUBJECT: RETENTION PERIODS Page: 1
Date: 02/08/1983
Approved: Jennifer Hawkins, D.V.M., Director Revised: 09/24/15
Anaheim shall be held for 9 days not including legal holidays or the day of impound.
The retention days are as follows:
1. The first 7 days (10 days for Laguna Hills impounds and 9 days for Anaheim
impounds) shall be for owner redemptions only. An adoption reservation may
be placed on the animal pending medical and behavioral assessment.
2. On the eighth day (eleventh day for Laguna Hills impounds and tenth day for
Anaheim impounds) the animal may be made available for adoption.
3. If an animal arrives at OC Animal Care with an out of state or out of date license
and no owner information is available, the animal will be held for 10 days not
including the day of impound or legal holidays. After the retention period, the
animal may be adopted to a private party, non-profit rescue group, euthanized,
or held for a longer adoption period.
D. Quarantined Animals
1. Owner Known Dogs and Cats
Owned dogs and cats that have been involved in a bite or a scratch where a skin
break is observed shall be held in quarantine for the ten days following the date
of the bite. An additional three days, subsequent to the quarantine period, shall
be applied allowing the owner time to redeem their pet from OC Animal Care.
2. Stray Dogs and Cats
Staff may determine the retention period for stray, unowned dogs and cats
involved in a bite or a scratch where skin break occurred. The following are the
retention periods to be considered:
a. The dog or cat may be held through the quarantine period and then either
euthanized or adopted pending staff approval.
b. The dog or cat may be held for four days, allowing for owner
identification and if ownership is not established, the animal may be
euthanized and tested for rabies infection.
c. The dog or cat may be euthanized upon impound if it is deemed to be
irremediably suffering or is a newborn animal that needs maternal care

4. Number: 600.14
SUBJECT: RETENTION PERIODS Page: 1
Date: 02/08/1983
Approved: Jennifer Hawkins, D.V.M., Director Revised: 09/24/15
and has been impounded without its mother. The animal shall then be
tested for rabies infection.
E. Animals Under Police Hold Or Special Circumstances
These animals do not have a determined Due Out date. Pending contact with the police
department and unless noted on the Memo, the animal cannot be released.
F. Animals Not To Be Adopted Or Held For Redemption
Reasonable efforts will be made to treat animals that are not adoptable but that could
become adoptable with reasonable efforts. Animals that are not recommended for
adoption are:
1. Animals under eight weeks of age.
2. Animals that have manifested signs of a behavioral or temperamental defect that
could pose a health or safety risk or otherwise make the animal unsuitable for
placement as a pet.
3. Animals that have manifested signs of disease, injury, or congenital or
hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the animal or that is
likely to adversely affect the animal’s health in the future.
4. Animals that are irremediably suffering from a serious illness or severe injury.
5. Newborn animals that need maternal care and have been impounded without
their mothers may be euthanized without being held for owner redemption or
adoption.
G. Feral Cats
Cats without owner identification of any kind whose usual and consistent temperament
is extreme fear and resistance to contact with people is a feral cat. A feral cat is totally
unsocialized to people. The holding period is as follows:
1. The first three days are for owner redemption only.

5. Number: 600.14
SUBJECT: RETENTION PERIODS Page: 1
Date: 02/08/1983
Approved: Jennifer Hawkins, D.V.M., Director Revised: 09/24/15
2. The fourth day, shelter personnel qualified to verify the temperament of the
animal shall verify whether it is feral or tame by using a standardized protocol.
If the cat is determined to be truly feral, the cat will be listed as TNR or NO
TNR as stated in OC Animal Care Policy & Procedure 400.12 for the Feral Free
Program.
3. The fifth day, cats listed as TNR will be altered and released back to their
original location. Cats listed as NO TNR may be released to a non-profit rescue,
euthanized or held for a longer period.
NOTE: “Ear tipped” cats, per County Counsel, are classified as owned animals. These
cats are to be retained as owned animals (see section C. Owned Animals).
H. Records
1. OC Animal Care shall provide the owners of lost animals and those who find
lost animals with all of the following:
a. A list of animals lost or found on the Lost and Found Lists maintained by
OC Animal Care.
b. The telephone numbers and addresses of other shelters in the same
vicinity.
c. The telephone numbers and addresses of volunteer groups that may be of
assistance in locating lost animals.
2. OC Animal Care shall keep accurate records on each animal taken up, medically
treated, or impounded. The records shall include all of the following
information and any other information required by the California Veterinary
Medical Board:
a. The date the animal was taken up, medically treated, euthanized, or
impounded.
b. The circumstances under which the animal was taken up, medically
treated, euthanized, or impounded (i.e., stray at large, confined, owner
released, etc.).
c. The names of the personnel who took up, medically treated, euthanized,
or impounded the animal.

6. Number: 600.14
SUBJECT: RETENTION PERIODS Page: 1
Date: 02/08/1983
Approved: Jennifer Hawkins, D.V.M., Director Revised: 09/24/15
d. A description of any medical treatment provided to the animal and the
name of the veterinarian of record.
e. The final disposition of the animal, including the name of the person
who euthanized the animal or the name and address of the adopting
party. These records shall be maintained for three years after the date the
animal’s impoundment ends.
I. Special Needs Animals Information
In addition to being able to view animals on the Lost Pets and Adoptable pets pages on
the OC Animal Care website at www.ocpetinfo.com, non-profit animal rescues and
individuals may view the Special Needs Animals page for current information (updated
every 30 minutes) on animals in need of rescue at
www.petadoption.ocpetinfo.com/SpecialNeeds/. Animals with behavioral and medical
issues are posted on this web page as well as animals that have been at the shelter for an
extended period of time with no adoption interest. Non-profit rescues that join OC
Animal Care’s Adoption Partner program or who provide 501(c)(3) identification and
email contact information will also receive a daily email promoting these special needs
animals.